Monday, November 30, 2009

Like the headline read....it was unbelievable. After a very ho-hum Championship game where it looked like Montreal had all but given up, the winds shifted in the last 10 minutes of the final quarter and we pulled off a win.

The 97th Grey Cup win!

It had been a great year for the Montreal Allouettes. They were a shoe-in to win the Grey Cup (Canada's, sort of, equivalent to the SuperBowl).

Now if anyone is wondering....hmmm.....I wouldn't have pegged Wanda for a football fan - you'd be right. I'm not. However, Danny is. But he hasn't allowed himself the pleasure of watching the game in years. He played football in University but that was it. He's also the type to never take a break, let down his hair and chill. Rarely will he give himself something for pleasure.

I, on the other hand, can find pleasure in an ant crawling along the windowsill (on the outside) so it thrilled me when he started watching the Als this season. And I started making him watch the games as he really enjoyed it (ergo: I enjoyed him more.....get it?!)

Then Dahlia really got into it and would ask....so, are the Als playing this week-end? There's something awfully cute about a 6 year old asking when the game is on.

And so, we all watched. And I even got some of it. Especially when Danny would shout for glee and the popcorn would go flying.

Avon Cobourne, Alouette's running back did a fine job.

Mighty fine!

Quarterback Anthony Calvillo.

Armchair Quarterback Milana M. (on a popcorn break?)

Runningback Dahlia M. and The Coach (Dad).

Here comes the Grey Cup - carried by two fine Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Friday, November 27, 2009

With less than a month (say wha...?) till Christmas, it was time to get into the spirit of the season. We had another day off of school today so we hit the shopping mall (no Black Friday here but no great deals either) to grab a few snaps of the kiddies.The only reason I couldn't shoot the top of the tree was because I refused to actually get on my belly to snap it. A deep knee bend was all I could muster (well....in public anyway).

It was quite a challenge to get them even in the same shot - let alone looking in the same direction. The area was almost deserted so Milana was like a wild child - she couldn't believe how much freedom she had to run with complete abandon. And she held very little regard for her Mother's pleadings to sit and look pretty (please). No, she was having none of that.

I managed to get a few.

(click on any picture to enlarge)

It's such a beautiful shopping center and one of the things I love best is the parking. You know, normally you park in another state/province and then walk to the mall. Well, I'm thrilled to say in front of almost every entrance there are about 10 handicap spots and about 10....wait for it.......spots for parents and children with strollers. Oh, hallelujah....what could be better than that?

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Yep, two years old today - November 18th.(somebody missed the cue "say cheese")

( a little tickle always works )

Below is a picture of Dahlia at the age of 2 (March 4, 2005). It still is one of my all time fav pics of her. I may try and find this outfit and get Milana to wear it walking down the stairs.

( Dahlia at two.)

We just had a simple family dinner with brownies for a birthday cake. (I put candles in Dahlia's brownie too.) Did Milana enjoy the chocolate? Oh yeah, she did.

Milana's party will be on Sunday. Nothing too big or overwhelming - just a few close friends. There's lots of time for the whole nine yards.

On Sunday too we'll begin a tradition for Milana that we've done each year on Dahlia's birthday. After the party is over, we'll go outside with our bouquet of balloons and release one into the night sky with a wish that it floats to her birthmother somewhere in China. And a silent prayer that she may know peace that her daughter is loved.

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Hi, I'm Wanda. I am a happy woman, wife to Danny for...oh....lots a years and finally Mom to THE most adorable little girl from Hunan, China - Dahlia. And now we have been blessed again with another daughter, Milana, from Zhejiang, China. (The 2 best things I've ever done!)
We live in the Montreal area. After a loooonnngg wait for Dahlia's little sister Milana (pronounced - Mee-lana, like banana), we finally brought her home in August 2009. Dahlia came to us in Nov 2004 (at 20 months of age)and a year later we began the application for another baby - at the time the waiting period was around 8 months. Almost 4 years later (say what!?!)we, at last, brought Milana home.
This began as the story of our journey to bring Milana home and life with her big sister, Dahlia. It now continues as we live as a family of four!

God.
My (growing) family.
Hangin' out with my girlies.
My wonderful friends (you know who you are!).
To laugh (out loud and a lot!).
Music.
Painting. Hugs.
Long chats with my buds.
My garden.
To read (ha...when I can!).
Sunshine.
Spring, Spring and more Spring.
Building things.
Cooking.
Decorating.
Parties (ahem).
The internet.
Life.
Movies. A.I.
Dancing with the stars.
So you think you can dance.
Travel. Umm..did I say laughing my head off.
Oh Gee...everything actually!!